Parl session may conclude before 1st phase of polls

NEW DELHI, Mar 8: The Budget Session of Parliament is likely to be cut short and may conclude before the first phase of elections on March 27, while the two Houses will resume their normal timing of 11 am onwards from tomorrow, sources said.
Several parties had requested that the session, which was originally scheduled to continue till April 8, be curtailed due to the five Assembly elections being held in eight phases till April 29.
While Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu announced the new timings for the Upper House on the first day of the second part of the Budget Session, the sources said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will make a similar announcement later in the day.
A final decision on curtailment of the session would also be taken by Birla who met floor leaders of various parties on the matter earlier in the day.
Keeping in mind the distancing norms due to COVID-19 pandemic, both Houses were meeting in two shifts since the Monsoon Session, with Rajya Sabha meeting in the first half of the day and Lok Sabha in the second half. (PTI)